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"This document contains a summary of 30 Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs) related to fire fighting that involved a site visit between 1990 and 2001, categorized by the focus. Of the 30 HHEs, 7 were related to respiratory health effects and safety and health programs and procedures, 8 to diesel exhaust, 5 to forest fire fighting, 6 to chemical fires, 2 to communicable diseases, 1 to arsenic poisoning, and 1 to inspecting fire scenes at buildings with chromated copper arsenic (CCA)-treated lumber ... none were related to noise exposure"--P. iii.

"Fire fighting continues to be one of the more hazardous industries in this country. l The occupational environment for fire fighters is somewhat unique: exposures are varied, often high, and intermittent. They occur in circumstances of extreme physical and mental stress where the only means of exposure control is self- contained breathing apparatus (5CBAs). Exposures can include smoke and particulate matter, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (N02), hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, sulfur dioxide (502) / sulfuric acid, acrolein, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, benzene and many other organic chemicals, and any chemicals that might be located at the fire scene. . Many of these exposures cause acute effects, but others may cause chronic effects, such as respiratory health effects and decreased lung function from repeated smoke exposures or cancer from repeated exposures to diesel exhaust, benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), asbestos, or formaldehyde. A high potential exists for burns, acute trauma, and musculoskeletal injuries. Communicable diseases are becoming a major concern, especially blood-borne pathogens and tuberculosis (TB). Other health effects associated with fire fighters are cardio- vascular disease, reproductive hazards, hearing loss, and occupational stress. A detailed summary of these exposures and health effects can be found in Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Reviews: Fire Fighters' Safety and Health. The 30 Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs) summarized in this document are grouped into the following six categories: 1. Respiratory health effects and safety and health programs and procedures (7). 2. Diesel exhaust exposures (8). 3. Forest fire-fighting (5). 4. Chemical diseases (6). 5. Communicable diseases (2). 6. Other (2). Along with conducting fire-fighting HHEs, the Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch (HETAB) began a project under the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFI&PP) during fiscal year (FY) 1998 to investigate line-of-duty cardiovascular fatalities suffered by fire fighters. Approximately 45 fire fighters suffer fatal heart attacks each year, and NIOSH is investigating these fatalities to generate hypotheses for prevention and intervention activities. Each investigation includes an assessment of the physiologic and psycho logic demands of the job, workplace organization factors, and individual risk factors. Each investigation results in a succinct report for the affected fire department as well as the country's fire service and is included as part of the larger annual report. From 1998 to 2001, 62 investigative reports have been completed, with an additional 13 pending completion. These reports have been distributed to more than 30,000 fire departments representing more than 1 million fire fighters. They are also available on the NIOSH fire fighter Web site www.cdc.gov/niosh/firehome.html. One peer-reviewed journal article has been published, and seven presentations have been given at national meetings. Finally, as an expert of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among those employed in the fire service, one program member was invited to become a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1582, Medical Requirements of Fire Fighters and Information for Fire Department Physicians." - NIOSHTIC-2

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Office of the Director.

Published:

April 2004

Series:

NIOSH eNews ; v. 1, issue 12

Description:

From the Director's Desk: NIOSH focuses on transferring research to effective prevention practices through the new Research to Practice (r2p) initiative -- World Health Day -- NIOSH Part of Interagency Team Honored by U.S. Public Health Service -- De...

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Division of Safety Research.

Published:

August 2007

Source:

DHHS publication ; no. (NIOSH) 2007-154

Series:

DHHS publication ; no. (NIOSH)

Description:

The United States currently depends on approximately 1.1 million fire fighters to protect its citizens and property from losses caused by fire. Of these fire fighters, approximately 313,000 are career and 823,000 are volunteers. The National Fire Pro...

Exposure to high noise levels among fire fighters is well documented and increas- es the risk for noise-induced hearing loss. NIOSH recommends measures to pro- mote better hearing health through the use of quieter equipment, better work practices, he...

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies. Industrywide Studies Branch.

Published:

March 20, 2011

Series:

NIOSH Fire Fighter Cancer Study

Description:

The primary objective of the project is to clarify the relationship between firefighter occupational exposures and cancer. The project will improve upon previously published firefighter studies by 1) significantly increasing the study cohort size and...

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies. Industrywide Studies Branch.

Published:

March 20, 2011

Description:

The primary objective of the project is to clarify the relationship between firefighter occupational exposures and cancer. The project will improve upon previously published firefighter studies by 1) significantly increasing the study cohort size and...